The PHE is a standard across elite sport to identify existing conditions that need addressing and mitigating. Although its value has not been demonstrated to extend to predicting new injuries, its value for existing conditions is clear. A standard level PHE is relatively easy to access – together an interested GP or
Sports Physician and a Physiotherapist can provide all that is required. Not only does it reduce the risk of exacerbating existing injuries and increasing rehabilitation requirements, it allows coaches and trainers to
tailor programs for individual athletes to speed up recovery. Finally, it also provides a degree of protection for coaching hierarchies from accusations of negligence should an underlying condition lead to harm. Dr Jeff MacLeod MFSEM FRCGP FURTHER READING: McCall A, Carling C, Davison M, Nedelec M, Le Gall F, Berthoin S, Dupont G: Injury risk factors, screening tests and preventative strategies: a systematic review of the evidence that underpins the perceptions and practices of 44 football (soccer) teams from various premier leagues; Br J Sports Med 2015 May; 49(9): 583-9: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25576530/
McCall A, Davison M, Anderson TE, Beasley I, Bizzini M, Dupont G, Duffield R, Carling C, Dvorak J: Injury
prevention strategies at the FIFA 2014 World Cup: perceptions and practices of the physicians from the 32 participating national teams; Br J Sports Med 2015 May: 49(9): 603-8: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25878078/
McCall A, Dupont G, Ekstrand J: Injury prevention strategies, coach compliance and player adherence of 33 of the UEFA Elite Club Injury Study teams: a survey of teams’ head medical officers; Br J Sports Med, 2016 June; 50(12): 725-30: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26795611/
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